Stimulants: Why We Should Avoid Them

Stimulants are drugs that increase your heart rate, breathing, and brain function. They can also increase your attention, alertness, and energy. Stimulants were once used to treat illnesses. Some stimulants are actually legal in the United States, for example, caffeine, guarana, nicotine, and Adderall. But illegal stimulants, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA (ecstasy) are the most dangerous. These illegal stimulants have a negative effect on the human body, especially the brain, and so should never be used.

Cocaine is an illegal stimulant made from the leaves of a coca plant which grows in South America. It produces high amounts of energy and talkativeness, but can also produce a dangerously high heart rate and blood pressure. It causes many other repercussions on the human body. As said by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA),

With repeated use, cocaine can cause long-term changes in the brain’s reward system as well as other brain systems, which may lead to addiction... Cocaine affects the body in a variety of ways. It constricts blood vessels, dilates pupils, and increases body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. It can also cause headaches and gastrointestinal complications such as abdominal pain and nausea. Because cocaine tends to decrease appetite, chronic users can become malnourished as well. (DrugFacts: Cocaine 2013)

A person who is malnourished is severely lacking sufficient nutrients in their body and this can become fatal. Also, when blood pressure rises to a very high level, the risk of having a heart attack is greatly increased. A rapid heart rate can cause not only constant dizziness and fainting but also heart failure.

MDMA, more commonly known as ecstasy, is another illegal stimulant. It was originally developed by Merck, a pharmaceutical company, in 1912. It was used by the American military for psychological warfare testing in 1953. Then used in the 1960’s as medicine to lower shyness in psychotherapy. Once it became used as a party drug in the early 1980’s, the government banned it for safety concerns. Ecstasy causes elevated moods, but side effects from just one use include nausea, cramps, blurred vision, chills, and sweating. Long term use may cause irritability, aggression, depression, insomnia, anxiety, memory loss, trouble concentrating, and decreased appetite. One of the largest concerns with ecstasy, is, that the user may not actually be aware it is a mixture of drugs and poison. According to the Foundation for a Drug Free World,

And while MDMA itself can produce harmful effects, what is called Ecstasy today can contain a wide mixture of substances—from LSD, cocaine, heroin, amphetamine and methamphetamine, to rat poison, caffeine, dog deworming substances, etc. Despite the cute logos dealers put on the pills, this is what makes Ecstasy particularly dangerous; (Drug Free World 1)

Although ecstasy may seem harmless to some people, it is a lot more dangerous than one could expect. A person could potentially be ingesting rat poison! It is obviously not worth the risk, but better to live a happy and healthy life.

Methamphetamine, or meth, is arguably the most dangerous illegal stimulant. It is a synthetic, man-made drug. It causes the user to feel excited and happy, but quickly turns to edginess, anger, and fear. Meth can be used in extremely low doses to treat ADHD and narcolepsy, but it is rarely prescribed. It has severe effects on the brain and body. As said by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA),

Long-term methamphetamine use has many negative consequences for physical health, including extreme weight loss, severe dental problems (“meth mouth”), and skin sores caused by scratching… People who use methamphetamine long-term may experience anxiety, confusion, insomnia, and mood disturbances and display violent behavior. They may also show symptoms of psychosis, such as paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, and delusions… (DrugFacts: Methamphetamine 2014)

The effects of meth are far too dangerous and disabling. Suffering from psychosis, anxiety, and insomnia can limit a person’s abilities. When a person is addicted to meth, it is impossible to have a normal life.

Some illegal stimulants may have once been used to treat medical problems, but because they are so harmful the government has banned them. Though stimulants increase your attention, alertness, and energy, they can cause horrible damage to the body.. Some stimulants are legal in the United States, and when used in moderation are harmless. Illegal stimulants, including cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA are illegal for safety reasons. They have a negative effect on the human body, and should be avoided.